The wounds in the ranks of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) following the outcome of the party’s presidential primary and the process leading to the selection of its vice presidential candidates may have not healed completely to smoothen the party’s take-off in the bid to reclaim the Presidential Villa in 2023.
This is as some major stakeholders in the party have yet to accept and throw their weight behind its Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, following his choice of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State as his running mate while the majority voted in support of the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike. Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, who was a guest at a Television Morning Show on Wednesday, said that he had withheld his support for Atiku and gone into hibernation until he gets further direction from God.
Also, former Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti state has insisted that he will support a candidate from Southern Nigeria, insisting that the position is for the South, rather than the North,where the PDP candidate, Atiku Abubakar comes from.
Ortom, who lashed out on the former Vice President for failing to consider Wike who he noted enjoyed the support of the majority of party stakeholders for the position of Vice Presidential candidate, argued that Wike had contributed so much to the party and deserved a call or visit from Atiku as soon as he made up his mind to go for Okowa as against Wike. He noted that the Rivers State Governor enjoyed the support of most of the members of the 17- man committee charged with the responsibility of picking a running mate for Atiku.
Ortom however recognized the fact Atiku had the responsibility of making the final decision, but added that he should have been bold enough to discuss the new development with Wike as against sending other party members to talk to the Rivers State Governor.
He said that the twist had made him to go into hibernation, adding that he was looking onto God to direct him on whether he should support Atiku or otherwise. Governor Wike has not officially responded to his rejection by Atiku for the position of vice presidential candidate, amidst speculation that he will soon resign from the PDP He has also held a series of talk with two presidential candidates, Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso of the Labour Party (LP) and New Nigeria Peoples party (NNPP), ahead of the 2023 presidential elections.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Walid Jibrin, has stated that Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, remains very valuable to the party, and will not be allowed to leave the PDP for any other political party, ahead of the 2023 general elections.
The BoT chairman, told journalists in Kaduna on Monday that the party would do whatever it takes to ensure that Governor Wike, does not defect. Jibrin said, “We in PDP know how to solve our problems. We know that Governor Nyesom Wike may not be happy. “It is the intention of this party to constitute a reconciliation committee that will meet Wike to talk to him, appeal to him, and pray that he will not leave our party.” Jibrin stated.
Jibrin described Wike as “a great man who has been fighting for the party, and the party will not want to see him move to another party.
“We will all visit Wike together and if it means kneeling to him, we will kneel for him,” the BoT chairman added.
Ortom praised Wike as, “somebody who stood for the party and made sure that things worked”, adding that “some of us believed in him” as the party’s best choice for the vice[1]presidential candidate position.
“All of us have our weapon; Wike can be ‘something’ but when it comes to mobilization, impact, value addition and reaching out to make sure that the party works, the man is an instrument. He’s somebody who stood for the party and made sure that things worked.
Some of us believed in him, but unfortunately, it was somebody else. But the party is supreme. “However, some of us have resorted to prayers. I have been in hibernation. We’ve resorted to prayer: ‘Lord God, where do we go from here.’
I believe as a Christian that power belongs to God. The Bible says a man can receive nothing except it is given to him from above.
“I am fasting and praying. So, in the end, if God directs me that I should support Atiku, why should I not do it? After all, he’s my party member. But I am waiting for him to do more. I expect him to reach out to Wike, who came second in the presidential primary.
The man denied the popular view of the PDP members — 14 out of 17 — who said Wike should be the vice-presidential candidate. I expect more explanation. I expect him to talk to Wike — whom we are supporting — first.
I expect him to reach out to some of us so that together we can work as a party.” Also, former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose on Wednesday denounced the presidential flag bearer of the People’s Democratic Party for the 2023 general election, Atiku Abubakar. Fayose insisted that it is the turn of the South to produce the next president, after the expiration of eight years of President Muhammadu Buhari in office, in the spirit of equity, fairness and justice.
The former governor, who disclosed this in a statement via his verified Twitter handle (Gov@Ayo Fayose), argued that section 3(c) of the PDP constitution provides for a rotational presidency. Fayose didn’t mention the party and candidate he would be supporting in the 2023 general elections, but urged Nigerians to await the detail soonest. He tweeted:”
The PDP Constitution provides for rotational Presidency. Section 3(c) provides that the Party shall pursue its aims & objectives by “adhering to the policy of the rotation & zoning of Party & Public elective offices in pursuance of the principle of equity, justice and fairness.”
“The current President of Nigeria is a 2-term Northern Presidency, thus implying that it MUST be a Southern Presidency in 2023 or NOTHING. Awa ‘South’ lo kan’. Nigerians should await details soon”